Phase Shift and Target Identification (TID) are terms you come across early in your exploration of metal detecting technology.
Here we explain what these terms mean and describe how phase shift is related to target identification.
The basics of electricity tell us that running a current through a wire creates an electromagnetic field around that wire. If you move another wire through that field it induces current into that second wire. That effect is called electromagnetic force, or “emf.” Now it doesn’t matter if the wire moves through a stationary field or an alternating field moves through a stationary wire. The generation of emf works the same in both cases.
A detector runs a radio frequency current, anywhere from about 5-khz to 20-khz through its coil. This creates a moving field that expands and collapses many times each second. This is a moving field. A coin in the ground is like a tiny 1/2-inch piece of wire. The moving field from the coil induces a very small emf in the coin, called an eddy current, Figure 1.
Figure 1. The radio-frequency electromagnetic field from the detector coil generates an eddy current in the coin in the ground.
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A Little Science for Metal Detecting – Target Identification
Now, here’s the trick. The physics of that current in the coin are such that it pushes back, in the opposite direction, against the current in the detector coil. This push-back, or echo, slows the current in the coil, but has no effect on the voltage. The result is that current in the detector coil becomes out of step with the voltage. This is called phase shift in electrical jargon. It means the current waveform lags behind the voltage waveform. See Figure 2.
Figure 2. The eddy current in the coin pushes back on the field from the detector coil, causing a phase shift, where the current and voltage wave-forms become out of step.
What Causes Phase Shift on a Metal Detector
A highly conductive target, such as a silver dollar will create a large phase shift in the detector coil. A zinc penny will cause a smaller shift, and a rusty nail even less.
The push-back from the target also explains why you get mixed signals from asymmetrical targets. A long nail scanned in one direction will produce a different phase shift than if scanned at 90-degrees from the original coil swing.
These changes in the current/voltage phase shift are exceedingly small, so it takes a highly refined signal processing circuit to detect the differences.
For less expensive detectors, the phase shift scale is broken up into segments or categories, generally called notches. These notches can be turned on or off to either select or eliminate phase shift categories. If you want to look just for coins, you can turn off , or gray out, the notches for iron, foil, and pull-tabs.
The Fisher F22 has 10 such notches. The Garrett Ace 300 has 12 notches that span the entire phase shift scale. You can see the categories across the top in the first two face plates Figure 3. The more expensive Minelab Equinox has 50 notches and each one can be turned on or off. In Figure 3 you can see some of the notches are grayed out along the semi-circle of the phase shift scale. These are most likely programmed to eliminate junk iron, pull-tabs, and bottle caps.
Figure 3. Face plates for different detectors: the Fisher F22, the Garrett Ace 300, and the Minelab Equinox 600. Each shows the discrimination values that can be programmed on or off to eliminate unwanted targets.
3 Tips for Target ID and Phase Shift
I’ve found that understanding phase shift and Target Identification (TID) is invaluable. Phase shift measures the frequency change when my detector’s signal hits metal, helping me identify what I might have found. TID, on the other hand, provides a visual or numerical indicator that helps me gauge whether a target is worth digging up. These features save me time and make my searches much more efficient.
With phase shift and TID at my disposal, I can quickly determine the potential value of my finds. Phase shift clues me into the metal’s conductivity—key for distinguishing between different materials—while TID categorizes my finds, letting me focus on the most promising signals. These tools are game-changers, significantly cutting down on fruitless digging and guiding me to the real treasures.
- Understand the Basics of TID: Familiarize yourself with how your metal detector’s Target ID works. The TID is a numerical or visual representation that indicates the conductivity of a metallic object, which can help you infer what type of metal you’ve found before digging. Some detectors use a scale, often broken into segments or categories, to help you identify targets more easily. Learn how your specific detector represents different metals and objects (Gear Upgrades).
- Learn to Interpret Notches: Many detectors divide the phase shift scale into notches that correspond to different types of metals or objects. By understanding which notches represent valuable targets like coins or jewelry and which represent less desirable objects like iron or foil, you can make more informed decisions about when to dig. This knowledge can save you time and effort by avoiding less promising signals (Metal Detecting Tips).
- Practice in Different Terrains: The phase shift and TID can be affected by ground mineralization and other environmental factors. Spend time practicing with your metal detector in various locations to understand how these factors influence the TID. This will help you become more adept at distinguishing between false signals and genuine finds, leading to more successful hunts (Megalocators).
Check Out These Spots for Your Next Metal Detecting Trip
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- Best Places to Metal Detect on The Outer Banks– Laws, clubs, and locations to metal detect on the Outer Banks
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In a more expensive detector, the phase shift scale is more exquisitely defined, into many more specific readings called Visual Identification (VID) numbers. The engineering for this finer performance is what makes the detector more costly. The payoff, however, is that you have much more specific target identification. This allows you to distinguish between a zinc penny and a copper penny, or between a silver dime and a clad dime.
The VID scale numbers from any one manufacturer are generally different from other machines. Whichever detector you use, you soon become familiar with the numbers corresponding to specific coins or common junk items, such as pull-tabs. This speeds up your choices on which targets to dig.
I hope this answers your questions about discrimination. Good luck and happy hunting.
Find out more about essential metal detecting gear with these articles
- Metal Detecting in the Water– Learn about waterproof metal detectors and how to properly use them
- The Gear for Gold– If gold is what your after, this article has plenty of tips
- What is Pinpointing in Metal Detecting?– Find out what pinpointers are and how they will change your metal detecting game
Vince Migliore is a writer and researcher. He has written numerous magazine articles on metal detecting and three books. His latest book is “The Art and Science of Metal Detecting,” available in paperback at Amazon.